Device for determining inclination of well bores



Feb. 2, 1943. D. H. WIEINSTEIN; arm. 2,309,877

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING INCLINATI ON OF WELL BORES Original Filed Jan. 8, 1958 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 DEVICE FOR DETERMINING IN CLINATION 0F WELL BORES David H. Weinstein, Houston, Tex., and Loyde H.

Metzner, Long Beach, Calif., assignors to Cooperative Development 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Original application January 8,,1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application Novemher 4, 1941, Serial No. 417,782

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for determining the inclination of well bores and has particular reference to a self-contained unit adapted to be positioned within a well bore and which is operative to measure the inclination of the bore and transmit such measurements to the ground surface.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 184,012, filed January 8, 1938, and entitled Method and means of creating and receiving sound signals.

In the drilling of oil wells and the like it has been found that when the well bore penetrates the earth's formation in its downward course, there is likelihood that the drilling tool will be deflected and will cause an objectionable deviation andinclination of the well bore. In order to ascertain the deviation of a drill hole from the vertical, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a deviation measuring instrument including a signalling device and a signal receiving means for indicating the degree of inclination of a well bore by creating at a point remote from the earths surface a signal; such as a sound signal, having a predetermined quality, value or frequency to definitely indicate the degree of inclination of the well bore.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a self-contained unit adapted to be 110- 9 sitioned at a point remote from a receiving station, for example, as at a depth in a well, and whichunitcontains a plurality of deviation measuring elements which, under varying conditions of deviation, will create definite signals to be conveyed to the surface of the well and be picked up by suitable receiving and amplifying means to make it possible to indicate the degree of deviation of the well bore from the vertical.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in diagram indicating the application of the present invention to the drill stem of an oil well;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in central longitudinal section showing the Signalling device as used in the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the device disclosed in Fig. 2 as viewed on the depth and which is shown here as receiving a drill string II at the lowerend of which string a drill bit I2 is secured. It is understood that the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 merely discloses the invention by way of example and that various other applications of the invention may be made. In the particular use disclosed in Fig. 1, the inclination of the well bore I0 is indicated by sound signals produced by a sound signal creating device l3 mounted within the drill string above the drill collar and here shown as resting upon spring Id. In the form of the invention shown in this application the sound signal creating device .is provided to indicate degrees of deviation of the drill string and thus the drilled hole from the vertical. These signals are propagated through the drill string or casing or fluid within the well and possibly the ground to be picked up by a microphone l5 which is in association with the drill string or the casing at the surface of the well and then amplified within a sound amplifying set. 16, which set may be fitted with a recording stylus I! and a recording ribbon or sheet I8.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that an outer case I!) is provided, formed with radially extending ribs 20 which will space it centrally of the drill string 'of circumferentially spaced segments.

As here shown these segments extend longitudinally of the drum and are of different lengths. Four segments are here shown. A segment 24 is the shortest in length, it contacts with the brush 25. A segment 26 is of a greater length, it contacts with the brush 21. A segment 28 is of increased length and it contacts with the brush 29. The longest segment here shown is of greater length than the previously mentioned segments, as designated at 30, and it contacts with a brush 3!.

t will thus be seen that as the commutator drum 23 rotates contact will be made initially between brush 25 and the shorter segment and that the other brushes will consecutively contact with the segments which progressively lengthen.

The shaft 22 has an extension carrying a commutator ring 32 in constant contact with the brush 33. The brush 33 is connected with the conductor 34. The conductor 34 connects with the source of v electrical energy 35. The other pole of said source connects with a breaker point 35'. This is drawn out of contact with the reed by a buzzer coil 36 connected with the conductor 3! to make or break the circuit. The conductor 31 is a common conductor to wires 38, 39, 40, and 4|. contact rings 4|, 42, 43 and 43'. The ringsdecrease in diameter in the order mentioned. Each of these rings is mounted on an insulated from separate concave plates 44 and upon which metallic balls 45, 46, 41 and 48 rest and are free to roll to create a contact between the rings and the concave disks. The concave disks in turn are in connection, respectively, with conductors 49, 50, and 52.

It is to be understood that while four commutator segment are shown on the drum 23, any number of segments may be placed on the drum 23 andthat any. corresponding number of disks with rings and balls will be placed in the device whereby various angles of inclination may be measured as hereinafter set forth. I

In operation of the present invention the sound signaling unit J3 isdisposed above the drill bit within the drillstring. Due to this arrangement the signals may be created for transmission to the surface of the well at intervals as the drill progresses and without the necessity of lowering the inclination measuring instrument or withdrawing it from the well except when the drill string is withdrawn for purposes of changing the drill bit.

The device asdisclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing employs a plurality of balls 45 to 58, inclusive, which are free to roll upon separate concave disks 44. As previously explained, any number. of these disks may be provided in which event the rings carried by the disks will difier progressively in diameter, thus the ring 43 of smallest diameter will contact with'the ball 48 assscciated therewith first as the instrument deviates from the vertical and the next successive ring 43 of increasing diameter will contact with theball associated therewith as the angle of inclination increases.

When the lower ball 48 contacts with its ring 43, an electrical circuit will be created through the conductors of the brush 3| as the timing device 2| rotates the shaft 22 and the drum, 23. The commutator segment 32 will engage the brush 3| and create a circuit. This circuit will include the conductor 34, the source of electrical energy 35, and coil 36 which may be a part of an ordinary buzzer connected to conductors 31 and 38, thus a single signal impulse will be given every time the commutator drum 23 makes one rotation. This would indicate the fact that the lowermost contact ball 48 has rolled to a position of contact with the ring 43'. As the instrument declines further, other circuits will be completed through the appropriate contact segments. These segments will progressively increase in number around the circumference of the drum as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing so that regardless of how many of the balls are in contact with their rings, there will be a number of sound impulses created represented by the largest ring and ball with which it contacts. It will thus be seen that in this particular case a definite signal will be propagated by the instrument with direct refer- These wires connect, respectively, with ence to the degree of inclination of the instrument within the hole.

It is to be understood that the present invention is particularly concerned with the creation of a definite sound signal having a known value or meaning and which is produced from a point remote from that of which the sound signal is heard. Such sound signals may be produced by vibration elements which will transmit sound waves through a suitable conductor or might be produced by an element creating a disturbance in the open air and which would be carried through the conduit. It is further to be understood that while a specific form of the device is here shown and disclosed that other embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention such, for example, as indicating the orientation of any element with relation to the magnetic north and it will also be recognized that devices of the type herein disclosed can be used to be lowered into a well through a casing or drill string to indicate points of break or twist-off since after movin the device to a position beyond the break, the signals will be rendered relatively inaudible.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed and the method of operating and utilizing the same to create signals of known significance and to receive or record said signals at a remote point will insure that a wideran ge of differences in the kind of information maybe obtained by a relatively simple apparatus which is rugged in construction and thus will be easily maintained in working order and which will operate without the use of expensive apparatus and without interference from electrical conditions which might render electrical or magnetic devices inoperative and unreliable. T

While we have shown the preferred form of our apparatus and method of using the same by which signals may be created and detected, it is to be understood that various changes might be madein the combination of elements and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. In a self-contained unit for determinin'g the inclination of a bore hole from the vertical, a casing containing the following instrumentali ties: a source of electrical energy; an electrically operated sound generating device; a plurality of members each movable upon inclination of said casing from the vertical a different number of angular increments to an abnormal position establishing a partial electrical circuit including said source; and a sequence means connected in series with said source and said sound generating device and connected into all of said partial circuits for simultaneously completing and interrupting each of said partial circuits through said sound generating device a number of times equal to the number of angular increments of inclination of said casing required to establish each of said circuits, whereby the number of angular increments included in a given inclination of said casing is manifested by the number or operations of said sound generating device.

2. In a self-contained unit for determining the inclination of a bore hole from the vertical, a casing containing the following instrumentalities: a source of electrical energy; an electrically operated sound generating device; a plurality of members each movable uponinclination of said casing from the vertical a difierent number of angular increments to an abnormal position establishing a partial electrical circuit including said source; and a sequence means connected in series with said source and said sound generating device and connected into all of said partial circuits for repeatedly, sequentially and simultaneously completing and interrupting each of said partial circuits through said sound generating device a number of times equal to the number of angular increments of inclination of said casing required to establish each of said circuits, whereby the number of angular increlar increments to an abnormal position establishing a partial electrical circuit including said source; and a sequence means connected in series with said source and said signalling device and connected into all of said partial circuits for simultaneously completing and interrupting each of said partial circuits through said signalling device a number of times equal to the number of angular increments of inclination of said casing required to establish each of said circuits, whereby the number of angular increments in-- cluded in a given inclination of said casing is manifested by the number of operations of said si nalling device.

4. In a self-contained unit for determining the magnitude of a selected condition existing in a well bore, a casing containing the following instrumentalities: a source of electrical energy; an electrically operated signalling device; a plurality of members each movable in response to a different number of magnitude increments of said selected condition to an abnormal position establishing a partial electrical circuit including said source; and a sequence means connected in series with said source and said signalling device and connected into all of said partial circuits for simultaneously completing and interr,

rupting each of said partial circuits through said signalling means a number of times equal to the number of increments of magnitude of said selected condition required to establish each of said partial circuits.

5. In a self-contained unit for determining the inclination of a bore hole from the vertical, a casing containing the following instrumentalities: a source of electrical energy; an electrically operated signalling device; a plurality of members each movable upon inclination of said casing from the vertical a different number of angular increments to an abnormal position establishing a partial electrical circuit including said source; and a sequence means comprising a brush connected to each of said partial circuits, a contact structure movable past said brushes and carrying a series of interconnected contact members for each of said brushes, each of said series including a number of contact members equal to the number of angular increments required to establish the partial circuit to that brush, and the contact members of each series being spaced apart in the direction of their movement a distance exceeding the corresponding length of said brushes, means connecting said interconnected members to said signalling device, and means for moving said contact structure, whereby the number of angular increments included in a given inclination of said casing is manifested by the number of operations of said signalling device.

6. In a self-contained unit for determining the inclination of a bore hole from the vertical, a casing containing the following instrumentalities: a signalling device; a source of power for actuating said signalling device; a plurality of inclination responsive means each movable from a normal to an abnormal position upon inclination of said casing a number of angular increments different from that to which the others are responsive; and means interconnecting each of said inclination responsive means with said source of power and with said signalling device including a sequence means for causing actuation of said device representative of the greatest number of angular increments to which any one of said inclination responsive means has responded irrespective of any failure to respond of any of said inclination responsive means which should have responded to a lesser inclination of said casing.

'7. In a self-contained unit for determining the inclination of a bore hole from the vertical, a casing containing the following instrumentalities: a signalling device; a source of power for actuating said device; a plurality of members each movable to an actuating position in response to inclination of said casing from the vertical a number of predetermined angular increments different from that to which the others are responsive; and sequence means interconnecting each of said members with said signalling device and said source of power and operable to actuate said signalling device a number of times representative of the greatest number of angular increments causing movement of any one of said members into actuating position and irrespective of any failure to move of any of said members which should have moved in response to a lesser inclination of said casing.

DAVID H. WEINSTEIN. LOYDE H. METZNER. 

